"It is great to see Coventry University coming to GIFT City"
Coventry University is set to become the first English university licensed to open a campus in India’s GIFT City.
The new branch will sit in Gujarat’s smart city and could welcome students as early as 2026.
Two undergraduate degrees will initially launch: BSc International Business Management and BSc Business and Finance.
More courses are expected to follow as the campus expands its academic offering.
The project received in-principle approval from India’s International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
It builds on the Coventry University Group’s growing presence in India, following the opening of its India Hub in New Delhi earlier in 2025.
Total investment in Coventry’s global campuses over the past five years has now reached £1 billion.
This includes new campuses in Egypt, Morocco, China, Kazakhstan, Singapore and now India.
The announcement was made at the UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue on April 9 at the London Stock Exchange.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the event.
Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University and Group CEO, said:
“The opportunity to make a real difference for the next generation of learners in India is one that we have grasped with both hands and will continue to do so.
“We are delighted approval has been given to commence the set-up process for Coventry University GIFT City and know that many students will benefit from the high-quality education we can offer over the years to come as we expand our course offering to students.
“We were part of a universities delegation, organised by the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), that visited GIFT City in 2023 and want to thank the DBT and the British Council for their support in helping our GIFT City campus come to life.
“GIFT City will bring the investment by our various partners into Coventry University branded or branch campuses to £1 billion in just five years which is a massive vote of confidence in us and the value of quality UK higher education.”
Lindy Cameron CB OBE, British High Commissioner to India, said:
“It is great to see Coventry University coming to GIFT City, an important global financial centre.
“The UK-India education partnership adds immense value to both our countries and is crucial to building modern, forward-looking connections between our people.
“I’m delighted that even more Indian students will be able to access Coventry University’s resources closer to home and hope it encourages deeper academic collaboration between the talented minds in India and the UK.”
Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council, explained:
“Congratulations to Coventry University for being the first English university to establish a campus in the GIFT City of India.
“This is testament to their long relationship with India and yet another landmark achievement in the India-UK partnership.
“It emphasises our shared commitment to the internationalisation of education, as highlighted in the National Education Policy 2020.
“Thousands of students will benefit from the high-quality education that the university can offer in the years to come.”
“I am confident this campus will serve as a vital platform for students, equipping them with the skills necessary for a dynamic future in a globalised world.”
Shri K Rajaraman, chairperson of the International Financial Services Centres Authority, added:
“The in-principle approval granted to Coventry University for setting up its international branch campus marks a significant milestone in developing GIFT International Financial Services Centre as a global hub for higher education.
“It also stands as a testament to the strong and growing partnership between the United Kingdom and India for the development of India’s maiden International Financial Services Centre in GIFT City.
“We are confident that Coventry University will make meaningful contribution to the growing higher education ecosystem by offering high-quality programmes that are closely aligned with industry standards and emerging job market requirements.”
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